Leaking when wicking how to fix?

[..nico..]

I got two rba, or rather I've got one RBA and one RTA.
Whenever I try to do my own build I end up with leaking tanks. Surely I am doing something wrong?

I got one Gemini RTA and one RBA for TFV4 micro. The gemini I can't use due to leakage. And the TFV4 micro I can only use with original coil heads. Whenever I try to wick my own the TFV4 leaks as well.

What I've done is watching various videos on youtube, like "how to"'s.
I've got the coils made, but when I try to wick with cotton troubles start.

Tried to not have the wicks go into the base of the deck. And I tried to stuff as much cotton as possible in the bottom of deck. Neither is working for me.

Surely leaking can not be common with home made coils and cotton wicks?

 

[ej1024]

Get a new tank


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[inspects]

I got two rba, or rather I've got one RBA and one RTA.
Whenever I try to do my own build I end up with leaking tanks. Surely I am doing something wrong?

I got one Gemini RTA and one RBA for TFV4 micro. The gemini I can't use due to leakage. And the TFV4 micro I can only use with original coil heads. Whenever I try to wick my own the TFV4 leaks as well.

What I've done is watching various videos on youtube, like "how to"'s.
I've got the coils made, but when I try to wick with cotton troubles start.

Tried to not have the wicks go into the base of the deck. And I tried to stuff as much cotton as possible in the bottom of deck. Neither is working for me.

Surely leaking can not be common with home made coils and cotton wicks?

Leaks are common if there is a seal missing or not seated correctly.

I'm not familiar with either tank, only thing I would suggest is using more cotton. You don't want the cotton too tight inside the coil, just enough resistance to pull the wick back and forth without moving the coil. Make sure the legs of the wick are stuffed in the juice holes correctly.

 

[..nico..]

Get a new tank

I've got two more tanks coming from China. Meantime I must find a way to solve this with the ones a got.

Leaks are common if there is a seal missing or not seated correctly.

I'm not familiar with either tank, only thing I would suggest is using more cotton. You don't want the cotton too tight inside the coil, just enough resistance to pull the wick back and forth without moving the coil. Make sure the legs of the wick are stuffed in the juice holes correctly.

The tfv4 micro is my favorite tank, it is just a delight to use with stock coils. And I have no problems with leaks. As soon as I try to make my own using smok rba for the tfv4 micro things get messy and juice flows everywhere.

If changed all the O-rings for new ones, so old ones should not be a problem. Also when I assemble the tank after cleaning I always put some juice on the seals to make sure things are tight.

 

[ej1024]

I've got two more tanks coming from China. Meantime I must find a way to solve this with the ones a got.
The tfv4 micro is my favorite tank, it is just a delight to use with stock coils. And I have no problems with leaks.
As soon as I try to make my own using smok rba for the tfv4 micro things get messy.

Cuz those tanks are CLEAROMIZERS FRIST
they purposely make the Rba option leak city,so that you go back to buying premade coils...



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[..nico..]

Cuz those tanks are CLEAROMIZERS FRIST
they purposely make the Rba option leak city,so that you go back to buying premade coils...



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You might be correct, but that does not explain why the vaporesso gemini RTA is leaking too?

 

[ej1024]

You might be correct, but that does not explain why the vaporesso gemini RTA is leaking too?

I heard horror stories about the Gemini...
I'm sure somebody here will explain it to you...
Good luck


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[..nico..]

Cuz those tanks are CLEAROMIZERS FRIST
they purposely make the Rba option leak city,so that you go back to buying premade coils...

Well I will park the gemini for now. Keep using the few standard coil heads I got left for the tfv4 micro.
Ordered some new original coild heads and a clone RBA for tfv4 micro tank. If your theory holds water or should I say e-juice maybe that clone RBA is better then the original? Worth trying to see if I can continue to use the tfv4 as it is the one I like the best.

Picking up some Kayfun clones tomorrow. According to other buyers of those they don't leak. We will see.
The learning curve is rather steep for vaping, and I guess the vendors like it that way. So many of us end up purchasing all kinds of crap before we find what we like and what works for us.

There should be starter kit for sub ohming with well working parts, great RBA and a clear and detailed how to guide. Learning the hard way by failure sinks a lot of money into vaping hardware that could rather been spend on e-juice and what not. And people cuss Ikea for shortcomings in their build plans, tsh those people should try to start sub ohming. Ikea ware comes with a "bible" compared to vaping hardware. /rant

Btw clearomizer first? Are they bad by default? Seems it is the only thing that might hold your liquid in place while in your pockets.

 

[all_thumbs]

I tried the RBA base in a TFV4. It was OK but slightly subpar compared to a dedicated RTA. I don't know if the TFV4 micro RBA is the same deck size. Basically, choose a coil size based on the size of the wick channels. Use enough to block them but not keep juice from seeping into the wick material. Don't let the coils or the wick touch the airflow holes in the deck. That last one might be a big deal if you had leaking even when you thought you stuffed the wicks heavily.

My TFV4 RBA has not leaked, but I haven't touched it lately and only wicked it twice. Both times I probably slightly overwicked.

 

[kargurin]

The only time I leak is seal related. Just last nite I forgot to close the Billow V3 fill hole. Yech. Btw more and more complaints on eciggity page about this tank leaking through the air hole ring seams. And they've stopped responding to complaints. It's spinach. Anyway my Griffin 25 leaked when I failed to tighten down the screw top. Watch out that your wicks are so fluffy that they are spilling into the tops of the coil air holes.


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[r055co]

Well I will park the gemini for now. Keep using the few standard coil heads I got left for the tfv4 micro.
Ordered some new original coild heads and a clone RBA for tfv4 micro tank. If your theory holds water or should I say e-juice maybe that clone RBA is better then the original? Worth trying to see if I can continue to use the tfv4 as it is the one I like the best.

Picking up some Kayfun clones tomorrow. According to other buyers of those they don't leak. We will see.
The learning curve is rather steep for vaping, and I guess the vendors like it that way. So many of us end up purchasing all kinds of crap before we find what we like and what works for us.

There should be starter kit for sub ohming with well working parts, great RBA and a clear and detailed how to guide. Learning the hard way by failure sinks a lot of money into vaping hardware that could rather been spend on e-juice and what not. And people cuss Ikea for shortcomings in their build plans, tsh those people should try to start sub ohming. Ikea ware comes with a "bible" compared to vaping hardware. /rant

Btw clearomizer first? Are they bad by default? Seems it is the only thing that might hold your liquid in place while in your pockets.

There are many good starter kits, everyone is different with varying needs/preferences and that's why I always recommend going to a good B&M when first starting.

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[thedoberman]

For me, if it's a new tank and the seals are seated properly then leaking always comes down to wicking or refilling method. Not quite covering a juice hole or fluffing cotton enough. Not closing juice/air holes when filling/topping off.
As far as wicking, I used organic sheet cotton at first and thought cotton bacon was gimmicky. I was wrong... and really enjoy working with it a lot more so if you can get that, do so. If your new it will make wicking easier IMO.
If you could wick up your Gemini and post pics, I/we can help you. I love that tank although the first day/build I was dumping juice as well until I knew what I was doing with it and how to wick it properly. I pocket carry it frequently now without a drop...in dress pants at that. There is some trial and error with these things but I can tell you that the Gemini is a very solid tank and top performer in my collection. Definitely not shelfware.

I got two rba, or rather I've got one RBA and one RTA.
Whenever I try to do my own build I end up with leaking tanks. Surely I am doing something wrong?

I got one Gemini RTA and one RBA for TFV4 micro. The gemini I can't use due to leakage. And the TFV4 micro I can only use with original coil heads. Whenever I try to wick my own the TFV4 leaks as well.

What I've done is watching various videos on youtube, like "how to"'s.
I've got the coils made, but when I try to wick with cotton troubles start.

Tried to not have the wicks go into the base of the deck. And I tried to stuff as much cotton as possible in the bottom of deck. Neither is working for me.

Surely leaking can not be common with home made coils and cotton wicks?

 

[..nico..]

Thanks for the reply doberman. You mentioned covering the air holes when filling, may I ask why that helps?
That is not on my routine as of today, as I don't need to close the air holes on the tfv4 micro, and there is still no leak. I guess I kind of expected all tanks to be like that.

When I get my new juices next week I will start to hone my wicking skills and I will do the air holes trick as well.

 

[conanthewarrior]

I own a vast collection of tanks, mainly RTA's as I prefer them, and a lot of people complain about leaking, but I find once you have wicking down, you won't have any leaks at all, I use RTA's to take out with me all the time with no leakage. A very kind person on here once sent me a package full of juice, and a tank called an 'Orchid' all the way from the USA to the UK- (Thank you @bondo). Wicking that really was an art form- but once you could wick that, I guarantee you can wick anything.

I find with most RTA's, less is more, you want to position the wick so it is just kind of over the top of the juice holes, with a tiny amount going into the juice channels (It helps to cut the ends into a V shape). Sometimes you have to use so little, you would think the tank would actually flood!

An Exception to this I find is the subtank RBA-I find that likes to be pretty much packed out for me.

I own the Gemini, and I find it to be quite a forgiving tank in regards to wicking (Same with the Crius and Griffin), in that you can get away with stuffing a little more cotton into the channels than with other tanks. I usually use a very thin allen key to poke it in-remember on top, you want it to be resting on top of the juice holes, covering them. Putting some juice onto the wicks helps to get them into place, and to see if it is covering correctly.

I don't own the TFV8 so can't comment on that, but do the TFV4 and the single/dual RBA, and the same applies, cover the holes with a tiny bit down the juice channels.

I hope you get it working, as the Gemini is actually a very nice tank- Essentially the same as the Griffin 25 but in 22MM form.

 

[BrewBear]

It would really help if you can post a picture or three of your wicking. Just talking about it is fine if you already have wicked a tank without it peeing on you after a refill. The reason we close the airflow when refilling is an extra precaution, most tanks function on vacuum and once you open the top, you lose vacuum and the tank leaks. The right amount of wick material factors in there as well, some tanks are pretty forgiving, others not so much. I use mostly RTAs and I'd be telling tall stories if I claimed that I never had a tank leak. Most often is a bad seal, but wicking will do it too. Post a picture and we'll take it from there.

 

[conanthewarrior]

It would really help if you can post a picture or three of your wicking. Just talking about it is fine if you already have wicked a tank without it peeing on you after a refill. The reason we close the airflow when refilling is an extra precaution, most tanks function on vacuum and once you open the top, you lose vacuum and the tank leaks. The right amount of wick material factors in there as well, some tanks are pretty forgiving, others not so much. I use mostly RTAs and I'd be telling tall stories if I claimed that I never had a tank leak. Most often is a bad seal, but wicking will do it too. Post a picture and we'll take it from there.

This is probably the best idea actually, a photo of wicking as talking about it can only get you so far, with an image we can direct you where to go in regards to wicking.

I have definitely had my fair share of leaks in the past, but I find with most tanks, once you do have the wicking correct they are fine for taking out and don't leak-but two tanks I can never get right for some reason are the Goliath V2 and also the Bellus- the bellus always seeps a bit, and I can't get on with the Juice flow on the goliath-I like being able to see if it is open/closed where there is a JFC, similar to the Crius style tanks.

 

[kargurin]

I used cotton bacon for the first time today. The only reason I ordered it because I wanted my iPhone case from Amazon delivered today so I did the minimum 35 bucks order next day delivery thing. Nice stuff! It's fluffy, dense and easy to work with. Stuck it in one of my Merlins and its is vaping niiiiccceeee!


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[thedoberman]

I find with most RTA's, less is more, you want to position the wick so it is just kind of over the top of the juice holes, with a tiny amount going into the juice channels (It helps to cut the ends into a V shape). Sometimes you have to use so little, you would think the tank would actually flood!

I hope you get it working, as the Gemini is actually a very nice tank- Essentially the same as the Griffin 25 but in 22MM form.

This! Couldn't agree more.

 

[skt239]

You might be correct, but that does not explain why the vaporesso gemini RTA is leaking too?

Sounds like user error, please don't take offense to that. If you could post a pic it will be easier for us to help you.

 

[..nico..]

Thx for all the replies. Will try to thinker with the Gemini first, when I got some spare time. The RBA clone from China will 2-3 weeks before it arrives. If I still get stuck'd with the gemini I will take a photo or make a video of the wicking.